Cultural Crossroads in the Middle East: The Historical, Cultural and Political Legacy of Intercultural Dialogue and Conflict from the Ancient Near East to the Present Day

The region of the Middle East has been called the cradle of mankind. This volume studies historical, cultural, religious, social and political legacies, which play a central role in obstructing intercultural dialogue in the Middle East.  The region became home to numerous cultures, religions and ethnicities with long experience of living together in a multicultural environment and has an immense impact on the entire human civilization as first human civilizations were born there. Today, more than 50% of world population follow Abrahamic religions (e.g. Christianity, Islam, Judaism), which have their roots in the Middle East. This book focuses on multiple topics related to the Middle East, including ancient history, the religion and mythology of the Ancient Near Eastern regions, Arabic, Persian and Islamic studies, Persian, Turkish and Arab literature, as well as modern Middle Eastern issues related to politics, security, society and the economy.

CONTENTS:
* Holger Mölder, Vladimir Sazonov: Introduction
* Holger Mölder, Vladimir Sazonov: The Failure of Intercultural Dialogue in the Middle East – the Impact of War Theology to Contemporary Ideological-Religious Conflicts
* Peeter Espak: On the Time of Composition of the Hitherto Undated Sumerian Myths
* Krzysztof Ulanowski: Communication with Gods. The Role of Divination in Mesopotamian Civilization
* Jaan Lahe: The Deity Mihryazd in Manichaeism and His Relations with God Mithra in Zoroastrianism
* Jaan Lahe, Vladimir Sazonov: Mitras Erstbenennung in der Indoarischen Götterliste im Vertrag von Hattuša?
* Amar Annus: The Syriologist Arthur Vööbus – a Perspective from Tartu
* Lidia Leontjeva: Some Details on the Composition of the Persian Manuscripts Collection at the Library of the University of Tartu
* Aynura Mahmudova: The Role of the Interpretation of Fuzuli’s Texts in the Formation and Development of the Literary School of Fuzuli
* Ingrida Kleinhofa: Between the Orient and the Occident: Visions of Arab Emigration Writer Ameen Rihani
* Üllar Peterson: The Position of the Alawites in Islam
* Tanja Dibou: Syrian Alawite Youth Values and Identity During the Civil War in 2011–2015
* Kobi Michael, Yoel Guzansky: The Nation State vs. the Failed State and the Arab Upheaval in the Middle East
* Yossi Mann: Saudi Arabia and the New Era on the World Oil Market
* Itamar Rickover: The Roots of Israeli Strategic Culture
* Limor Nobel-Konig: Is Terrorism Effective? Examining Terrorism Strategy in Achieving Political Goals
* Holger Mölder: The Islamic State, Clash of Civilizations and Their Impact on the Development of Contemporary International Relations
* Sandra Peets: The War of Rhetorics: The Strategic Narratives Adopted by Āyatollā Ḫomeynī and Ṣaddām Ḥusayn in the Iran-Iraq War
* Viljar Veebel, Yurii Punda, Vitalii Shevchuk: Is the European Migration Crisis Caused by Russian Hybrid Warfare Actions in Syria and Ukraine?
* Illimar Ploom, Vladimir Sazonov, Viljar Veebel: Moscow’s Srategies in the Middle East